Reputed mobster in Fla. jail pleads not guilty to obstruction of justice and money laundering

Reputed mobster pleads not guilty in federal court

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A reputed U.S. mobster arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and money laundering has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

Roberto Settineri is being held on a $250,000 bond, pending a bond hearing. No date for that hearing has been set.

Settineri’s attorney, Jeffrey Weiner, entered the plea for him Thursday and said prosecutors told him they will seek to keep him in pretrial detention.

Authorities say Settineri was arrested amid an international sweep aimed at crippling the Gambino organized crime family and disrupting its ties to the Italian mob.

Authorities say Scott Rothstein, an admitted South Florida Ponzi scheme organizer, helped nab Settineri by secretly recording incriminating conversations between them.